It's probably not going to come to anyone as much of a surprise that obesity is a chronic problem in our society.
According to a recent report in Health Affairs 2009, 66% of American adults are either obese or overweight - and according to the Journal of the American Medical Association, almost 1/3 of children and adolescents are overweight or obese.
Part of the problem is our sedentary lifestyle - we tend toward being couch potatoes watching the tube or sitting in front of the computer rather than moving around - and part is our poor dietary choices: fast foods and overly processed ingredients as opposed to selecting healthier options.
It has gotten to the point that unhealthy eating and a sedentary lifestyle is estimated to account for more than 400,000 deaths in the US annually.
That's more deaths than from alcohol, and only slightly fewer than from tobacco - and it means that poor lifestyle choices account for more than 1 million deaths every year.
Now, as adults, you may be thinking: well, so what? Yes, it's an unhealthy lifestyle - but it's not affecting anyone else, so who are you to say anything? The reality is that the poor choices we make in our eating and activity habits do affect others: Because obesity is linked to hypertension, hyperlipidemia, diabetes, coronary artery disease and other chronic illness, we all feel the impact in increasing insurance costs and decreased economic output.
Worse, however, is that we are establishing these behaviors as the standard for our children to follow - and will, in the very near future, become their burden to bear.
It has been estimated that within the next 14 years, we will see a 42% increase in the seven most prevalent chronic health conditions that are directly related to obesity - and an increase of $4.
2 trillion in treatment costs and lost productivity.
This means that our children will not only have to deal with their own health issues related to lifestyle choices - but they will be burdened with paying for our choices as well.
So what, if anything, is the magic solution? How do we change ourselves from being a society of overweight, computer obsessed couchies to being the active and energetic people we were in our youth? Sad to say, and despite what you see on television and on the web, there are no magic solutions.
There is no pill or magic tea that will make you thin in a week; there is no diet and exercise plan that's going to turn that flab into firm muscle in 30 days.
It took us time to learn our bad habits and get out of shape - and it will take time and commitment to unlearn them.
Of course, many of us do make the commitment to get fit: the problem is we over-commit.
We decide we'll work out every day - and promptly overdo it, injuring ourselves or straining muscles - and creating a new reason not to go out.
We decide to follow elaborate (and sometimes ridiculous) diets that require us to count every gram of carbs, fats, and proteins, or requires us to eat nothing but grapefruit and olive oil (or whatever) - until we decide that losing weight isn't worth the effort! And last, we don't see those instant results that we want - and we settle back onto the couch, deciding that the exercise, the diet and all that goes with it just isn't right for us.
After all, we're healthy enough...
right? Except we know we aren't.
We know we're not eating well or taking care of ourselves - and we see our children following in our footsteps.
So how do we get ourselves - and them - back into shape - and enjoy the process? First: Start simply.
Rather than investing in a gym membership today, start by taking a walk around the block a few times a week.
Take your children with you, and use the time to talk about...
whatever.
Their school.
Your garden.
The neighbor's new puppy.
You'll both benefit by sharing this time and well as from the exercise.
The next week, try adding a block or two.
Take the dogs with you (they'll love you for the extra time they get outside!).
As you get fitter, try adding sports that you can both enjoy - batting a softball at first, or throwing a Frisbee; change the walk to a bike ride and plan longer trips, or take up martial arts together.
Join a gym that admits young people as well as adults, and try sharing their group classes.
Spending this time together can be the basis of keeping good communications throughout your children's lives.
Start simply with your meal changes as well.
Do you have bags of chips and snacks around the house? Rather than buying more, try replacing them with fruits and veges.
(If you're pressed for time, most grocery stores have a good selection of pre-cut produce, as well as prepackaged salad mixes.
This will save time while providing you with some healthier choices.
) Replace some of the over-processed breads and grains with whole-grain options.
Try baking and grilling meats rather than frying.
Try tofu and tempeh instead of meat.
Getting flack from the children about the changes? Then involve them in the process.
We all like things better when we're involved in the decision making, so let them help you select foods from the store; have them read labels and ingredients and decide which are the best choices.
Let them search for interesting recipes - and let them help you cook them! Not only will they start developing good eating and shopping habits, but you're preparing them for their future by helping them to make good choices - and learning to cook! Clearly, getting healthier and fitter is not an instant process: it's a lifelong journey, rather than a destination.
The true reward comes in knowing that is doing so, you giving them - and yourself - and longer life in which to enjoy it.